Is this the company?
Rebel Books LLP
Interestingly, they identify themselves as an LLP, but the only details I can find on Companies House are for a limited company rather than a limited liability partnership (which would need to be registered).
The only information on the entity's founders is here:
Rebel Books Website:
Rebel Books LLP was an idea that was banded about over coffee and had been one person's dream for sometime. Was it the kind of idea that never becomes a reality? Not this time!
The two driving forces behind the small independent publishing house are used to adversity and are determined that nothing is going to stand in their way of making Rebel Books LLP a big success.
This is all very nice, but it doesn't set out any concrete experience that would suggest that either "driving force" can turn that dream into reality. Nor does it name either "driving force". Personally, I'd want to see named individuals with a proven track record in the publishing business.
Rebel Books Website:
We want to work closely with all our authors to ensure that our publications are as big a success as possible.
This is a bit of a red flag to me. For publications to be a success, the publisher needs to be able to get the books into stores and then have a solid marketing plan. Yes, authors may need to get involved in publicity and marketing, but they shouldn't be tying themselves to making the books a success - that's the publisher's job.
Rebel Books Website:
The publication for release in early 2010 is an anthology of Supernatural stories for young adults.
Anthologies and short story collections are not a good way to start out into the YA market, especially if they don't have any established YA authors making a contribution (note - it's possible that they do, but they don't name anyone and the anthology seems to be open to submissions).
Rebel Books Website:
We will be marketing the books to various booksellers and would hope to provide them with marketing material such as posters, postcards and flyers. However authors will also be responsible for marketing their own work. We also hope to be open an on-line book shop so customers can buy direct from us if they cannot find the book in their local store.
Another red flag. Marketing the books to various booksellers is not the same as having a distribution deal in place to get those books into stores. The fact that they're planning to open their own on-line shop suggests that even they accept it's unlikely that people won't find their books in stores. And the author is going to have to be responsible for some of their own marketing, suggesting that the publisher doesn't have the capitalisation to budget for the marketing they'd normally need to do.
Rebel Books Website:
Your short stories should be no longer than 3 500 words at the absolute most
The focus on short stories suggests they're not taking full length manuscripts. How they expect to establish readership loyalty is therefore unclear to me.
Rebel Books Website:
Please note that once we receive an email submission your contact details are logged onto our central database and you will be subject to receive any of our future mailshots regarding marketing, future publications and new submissions calls. Should you not wish to be added to our mailing list please could you also make this clear in the body of your email.
Making a submission to a publisher should never, under any circumstances, put you at risk of going onto their spam, sorry, mailing list. If this is how they're planning to market future publications, then it seems pretty bloody clueless. And desperate.
Rebel Books Website:
If you are accepted we will need your full name, address and contact details before we can send out the contract which will outline royalty payments and our obligations to each other.
They're not making up-front payments for stories or, it appears, advances. Again, it goes to suggest that they don't have sufficient capitalisation. Bear in mind that a publisher that's not geared up to selling books in stores is not geared up to make bulk sales, which means that you shouldn't expect those royalties to be particularly high.
If you're a YA short story writer, you'd be better off going to a magazine like Cricket (which at least counts as a professional credit).
Rebel Books Website:
Although we will carry out marketing on behalf of Rebel Books LLP, this will also be a big part of your responsibility as a writer and if you are successful we will contact you with marketing advice and tips!
Oh goody. I'm sure that those tips will be real nuggets of wisdom.
Rebel Books Website:
We do wish to welcome unsolicited manuscripts, however due to the size of our business we would have to feel it was something we would be crazy to miss before we could publish it. A lot more work has to go into editing, publishing and marketing a novel and therefore if you are rejected this does not mean that your manuscript is not special so please continue to submit as there are places out there with enormous budgets who may be looking for someone just like you. You should submit your synopsis, three chapters and an author bio (approx 50 words) to
[email protected] and we will endeavour to get back to you within six weeks.
Yeah. And more money has to be paid out as an advance as well. Still, it's good to know that they're admitting they don't have a lot of money behind them.
Incidentally, the hotmal account email address is not a reassuring sign. Any professional publisher should not be relying on a free email account.
Basically, there's nothing to suggest that this company has a professional basis for offering its services, which isn't to suggest it's a scam - they're more likely well-meaning but clueless amateurs. Personally, I'd wait to see if they're still in business in a couple of years and if they can get their books into stores before submitting anything.
MM